Gear-shifter for change-speed gearing



G. M. MILNE.

' GEAR SHIFTER FR CHIIGE SPEED (BEARING.-

r APPLICATION HLEIT FEB- 23. IBIS. I 1,313,167, Patented oct. 7,1919.

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GEAR Sl-HFTER FOR CHANGE SPEED GE'KMNG.

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11,318,167. v v Patented oct. 7,1919

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APPLICATHIN` HLED FEB. 23. IBIS.

Patented Oct. 7,1919

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 G. M. MILNE.

GEAR SHIFTER FOR CHANGE SPEED GEAHING.

APPUCM'IOII FILED FEB. 23. 1916. 1,318,167. Patented oen 7,1919.

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GEORGE M. MILNE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GEAR-SHIFTER FOR CHANGE-SPEED GEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

Applicaiiqn filed :February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,927.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that GEORGE M. Mnmr., a citizen 'of the United States of America, residinfr at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear- Shifters for Change-Speed Gearing, of which the 'following is a speciiication,` reference being had therein to the accompanyingqdrawings.

his invention relates to devices for shifting the gears of a change-Speed power transmitting mechanism particularly adapted for use in motor vehicle constructions, and its object is to provide a simple, compact and efficient device fol-'thc purpose which may be readily applied to power transmissions as commonly constructed and embodied in 4automobiles and which is adapted to be mechanically operated and `the speed changes effected by simple selector mechanism readily set by the driver. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the shifting of the change speed gears is directly under the control of the operator and all gears are automatically first shifted to neutral or inoperative position in effecting a change of speed. it is also an obiect of the invention to provide a construction which is such as to insure accuracy and positveness of operation and which is stron and durable, yet comparatively inexpenslve t' construct and not liable to t out of order.

ith these and other objects in view the invention consists inthe construction. arrangement and combination of elements or their equivalents, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in the followin specification, reference being `had to sai drawings in which x Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section 'through gear shifting mechanism embodyingl the inventionV and showing the same as applied to a, change-speed mechanism whch is illustrated dagrannnatically;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same 1with `parts broken away and in section;

Figs. 3, 4.- andv are detail views of gear v shifting levers;

Fig. 6 is a sectionaldetail of a neutralizing slide and operating levers, substantially upon the line VIv--VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section substantially upon the line VIL-VII of Figs. 1 and 8;

Fig. 8 is a. 'longitudinal vertical section on the line VHI-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of gear shiftino' levers detached;

.P ig. 10 is a longitudinal section similar to that of Fig. 8 showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a selecting lever and its indicating sector; and

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the shifting mechanism casirlg drawn to a smaller Scale.

As illustra-ted in Fig. 1, A indicates the casing of a common construction and arrangement of sliding gear change-speed power transmitting mechanism used in automobile construction in which sliding gears B and C are shitable longitudinally on their shaft into mesh with other gears on a counter sha-ft in the casing to give the desired speed changes. These gears are arranged in the usual manner so that a forward movement of the gear B brings clutch members B into mesh to directly connect the driving and driven shafts and give high speed, and a. rearward movement of said gear brings it into mesh with a similar gear B2 on the counter shaft to give an intermediate or second` speed. A forward movement of the gear C which is of larger diameter than the gear B, brings said gear C into mesh with a smaller gear C o'n the counter sl'lat to give first or low speed and a rearward movement of the gear C brings it into mesh with an intermediate or reversing gear C2, to impart a reverse motion to the driven shaft. This simple form of gearing is shown in the drawings to illustrate the operation of the gear shifting mechanism embodying the invention but it will be understood that other forms or arrangements of change speed gearing may be employed.

The shifting of the gears B and C is directly effected in the usual manner by means of-yokes D and E secured to shifting rods 1 and 2 which may be located as in the usual construction of change speed gearing within ,the casing A or as shown in the drawings they may be mounted in bearings in the ends of a suitable casing 3 for the gear shifting mechanism embodying the invention, which casing is preferably secured upon the top of the casing A over the usual opening therein. l

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Longitudinal movement is imparted to the rods l and :2 hy means of shifting levers or arms l and 5 mounted upon a shaft G which extends transversely ot' the casing 3 and is mounted in hearings in the sides thereof.

The arm or lever l is secured in any suitable manner as by a pin T to the shaft G as is also a laterally and rearwardly extending arm or lever e which is arranged t0 turn simultaneously with the arm Jr and extends substantially at right angles thereto. The arm 5 mounted upon the shaft to turn' freely thereon and formed integral with its hub or secured thereto is a laterally and rearwardly extending arm 9 corresponding to the arm 8. The. armsl J( and 8 lie in the saine vertical longitudinal plane, as do also the arms 5 and Sl. and each of the rhnvnwardly extending.

arms it and 5 has a circular shaped lower end 10 to engage a Slot or opening in the .shiftingr rod which is operated tl'lereby or said arms may be in any other suitable manner pivotally connected to the rods.

The rear edge of each of the arms 1 and 5 is provided with a suitahle Contact surface adapte-d to he engaged hy a suitable cam lever 11 having: a rounded or curved end surface to engage the contact surfaces of the arms. This` cam lever is mounted upon a. transverse shaft 12 in the casing 3 and is operatively.y secured thereto to turn therewith hy means of a spline 13 lint is: t'rce to slide longitudinally of the shaft to brine; the. cani arm into the vertical plane of either one ofthe armsi or o' ao that when the shaft 1:2 is turned said cam lever may he brought into contact with one ot' the arms to swing the saine and move the shiftingr rod connect.- ed thereto forwardly. cam lever ll similar to the iev'er 1l is also in a like manner nnninted upon the shaft l2 and connected to the lever 1l to slidilongitudinally on the shaft therewith. To liring said lever 1i into the vertical plane of either one ot' thc. arms S or El whirh arms. are formed with a curved or caln `shaped end surface adapted to he. engaged liv a .siinilarilv tormcdend ot the lever. thc lever l1 is ot' such a length that it is adapted to pass l'l'ccly hetween tho arms 4 and H or 5 and il with the upper arms workin; r freel)`- ahovc Said lever. The levers l1 and ll may therefore hc moved irecly transversely ot' the casingto hrin; r cilln-r one oi them into alinelncnt with its desired operating arm. and thus these levers form a snlcctor hv means' ol'I which the desired speed change inay lic scha-led ln: moving thc, leversI into alincmcnt willi il i arm which when op4 crati-il will more om otl the shifting rodi,` in the proper liiection to rilievi the desired speed change. Thus when the cani lever ll is' `swungr into contact willi the shifting. arm vl. said arm will he swung forwardly' and the rod l wili la moved in the. saine direction, shifting the clutch members li into engagement and giving high speed. In a like manner when said arm 11 is shifted into aiinement with the arm 5 and siwune into engagement therewith, Said arm Will he forced to swingr forwardly and shift `the rod 2 in that. direction, effecting an operative connection of the gear with its pinion C to give the lowest speed. lVhen the cani level' 14 is shifted into the plane of the arm S and its shaft 12 turned to bring the lever inbo contact with the end surface of the arm, said arm will he forced to swing upwardly thus turning the shifting,r arm 1 which is integra-l therewith in a rearward direction and movingY the rod l to bring,lr the gear B into mesh with the gear B2 and give an intermediate speed which ig the speed next lower than that which is effected hy the bringing of the clutch members B into engagement. In a like manner when the cam lever 1-1 is shifted and brought into engagement with the arm 9, the shift-ing arm 5 will be swung rearwardly and move the rod 2 to shift the gear C into mesh with its inion C2 to reverse the direction of motion imparted to the driven shaft.

'lhe ealn levers 11 and 14 are off-set from each other or extend in different vertical longitudinal planes so that wheirone of them is swung into engagement with its` shit'thneI arm' the other will pass between the shifting arms and he inoierative. To move these arms-along the sha t 1Q and give them the desired position in selecting thel particular speed desired, a yoke 15S is mounted upon a transverse shaft lo in the casing 3 to slide t'roely thereon and is engaged in a groove in the huh of the cam levers 11 and 14. This volte is moved along its ahat't to move the levers, hy means of a crank arm 17 having a forked lower cud engaging; a pin on the huh of the yoke l?) and this crunk arm is' pivoted in a hearing,` in thc end ot' the casing and extends therethrough where it is provided with an operating lever 1S on its outer end hy means ot' which it is turned. A suitable hand lever 19 ia mounted in any convenient place upon the automobile. as upon the steering column adjacent, tlu` steering wheel. not, lshown. and thisl lever is arranged to swing over a suitable sector 20 provided with indicating marks as' R. L. T. ll. and Nto indicate 'lte\'erse. Low, ntermediate. High and Neutral .speeds or positions` of the transniisaion,Y gearin". An arm 21 secured to thc lower end of a shaft 22 which is turned h v the hand lever l!) hasA a con- 'ris nccting rod )Sl pivotnlly attached to thel one end thereof outside of the casing 3 and this lever may be connected in any suitable manner to a lever, not shown, for o erating it by means of the hand or foot of t e o erator, but referably to the clutch peda in an automo ile construction so that each time the clutch is disengaged the shaft 12 will be turned.

To obviate any possibility of two of the gears of the transmission being thrust into mesh while two other gears are still in enF gagement, means are pro-vided whereby the first portion of the turning movement of the shaft 12 will ca use the shifting arms to be swung into thelr intermediate position if either one of them is not already in that position and thus shift the gears of the transmission into inoperative or neutral position as shown in Fi 1. The mechanism or thus neutralizing t e gears comprises a slide which is mounted upon suitable guide rods 26 and 27 adjacent to one side of the casing 3 to slide freely upon saidrods longitudinally of the casing. This slide has a central opening 28 thereln through which the shaft 6 extends and also for the purpose of receiving two neutralizing-arms 2'9 and 30 mounted upon said shaft and 4extending rearwardly therefrom llongitudinali of the opening The arm 30 is secured to t e shaft in any suitable manner as by a pin 31 and the arm 29 is formed inte al with or secured to the hub ofthe shi ting arms 5 and 9 to turn therewith freely upon the shaft 6. The rear end of the opening 28 in the slide is formedwith rearwardly converging sides 32 which form inclines to engage the arms 29 and 30 and turn them to a horizontal position when the slide is moved forwardly into engagement therewith. The opening 28 is of such alength and width relative to the neutralizing arms that it will permit said arms to turn in the opening with the swinging of the shifting arms and permit of a suilicient movement to throw the gears of the transmission mechanism into mesh.

To move the slide forwardy whenever the shaft 12 is turned, an arm 33 is secured upon said shaft and carried by the slide is a dog 34 adapted to be engaged by the upper end ,of the arm. This dog may be adJusted to rovide for Vwear "by means of adjusting rews 35 and it is arranged to slidefreely an opening in' the slide 25 so that upon the rearwardly swinging movement of the 'arm 33 it will be lifted thereby and permit the-arm to pass. ,"Ihe u per end of the arm and the lower'end of t e dogare however, so formed that vgjilpon the forward swinging movement of the arm 33, said arm will contactzthe dog insuch a manner as to move the slide forwardlyA to the limit of its movement before it swings out of engagement therewith in its' forwardly and downwardly swinging movement. The parts are so proportioned that the arm 33 will disengage 1tself from the dog Just as one of the cam levers of the selector comes into engagement with its shifting arm and thus the neutralizing slide will be moved forward to the limit of itsmovement and through the medium of the neutralizing arms 29 and 30 move the gears into neutral position during approximately one-half of the forward turning movement of said cam lever. The remainder of this turning movement brings the cam lever into engagement withits shifting arm and shifts the selector gear while the continuous forwardly swinging movement of the arm 33 operates through a forked or slotted lever 36 to return the slide to its original position or rear end of its movement. The forked lever 36 is pivoted at 37 .to the side of the casing and has `a slotted upper end engaging a pin 38 projecting from the side of the slide 25. A lug 39 on the hub of the forked lever isarranged to be engaged by a similar lug 40 on the forward si e of the lever 33 and said lugs are so positioned and arranged that they come into contact with each other just as the upr end of the arm 33 moves out of engagement with the dog 34 in moving the slide forwardly, as shown in Fig. 10.

When this invention is embodied in an antomobile construction and the shaft 12 is connected up with the clutch pedal as here inbefore described, the operator desiring to shift the gears for the purpose of securing a desired speed, as for instance when the gears are in neutral position as shown in Fig. 1 and he desired to shift the gear C into mesh with the pinion C to give first Y or low speed, he will first move the handle v19 to the position 11, which movement will shift the selector to bring the cam lever 11 into alinement with the shifting arm 5. Then by a forward movement of the clutch pedal which will disengage the clutch, and turns the shaft 12, he will' swing the arm 33- and move the neutralizing slide 25 forwardly. When the slide reaches the for ward end of its movement it will be released from said arm and return to rearward position b. means of the fork 36 as previously described and the continued forward movement of the clutch pedal and turning of the shaft 12 will bringr said cam lever 11 into engagement with the shifting arm 5 which will be swung forwardly thereby and shift the desired gears into mesh.

The gears now being in first or low s' eed position, if the operator wishes to shi t to any other speed, as for instance second or intermediate speed, he will set the hand lever 119 to. the position marked I and this will bring the cam'lever 14 into alinement Ywith the shifting arm 8. The operation of 'lli turn the shaft 12 and the neutralizing slide will as before, during the first part of the turning movement, be moved forwaidly. The mechanism having before been operated to bring the low speed lgears into n esh, the neutralizing arm 2t) will lie adjaent to the lower side ot the opening' 2S 1n the slide 25 as shown in Fig. 8 and thus when said slide moves forwardly, said arm vill be thrust upward to mid position and its corresponding shitting arm 5 will be simultaneously swunler rearwardly and nove the low speed gears into neutral position prior to the engagement of said cam lver 1-l with the arm 8 which engagement vill effect the shifting of the gear B into i1 esh with the gear Bz and give the desired speed change.

The other speed changes may be secure l in a like manner. By shifting the hand l ver 19 to the position marked N the sele tor cam levers are moved to a position where they are both out ot' alinement. with my of the operating' arms and thus when the elnteh pedal is operated to throw ont the clutch, the neutralizing slide :25 only will be operated and thus the onl \v change effected will be to throw any gears which i nl v be in mesh into neutral position. [t vill be noted that with this` construction it vill be impossible to shift any ot' the, gears into engagement to give a, desired speed w thont first moving any other gear which 1ia v be in position to transmit motion, into i eutral osition. It will also be noted that the turning of the shaft 12 and thus theswinging of the shitting arms to shit't the gi ars is under the direct control at all times of the operator who may therefore shift the gears into mesh quickly or slowly as found desirable,.he thus being' able to elimii ate the noise and wear incident to bringingr the gears into contact when their teeth are not ont of alinement. 1t will also be not-ed t iat there are no springs or loose parts to become broken or displaced in operation and that the movements are all ositive and aecurate. The shifting mee ianisni is also contained wit-hin a small casing which may be readily bolted in place upon the top of the ordinary form of transmission gearing, taking the place of the usual hand lever for shifting the gea rs.

Havin r thus fully described my invention what I c aim is:-

1. In a. `ar shifter, the lcombination with ear shifting elements, of a. swinging mini- Eer for operating said elements pivoted mtermediate its ends, and means sliit'table transversely of the plane of pivotal movement of said member for selectively engiging said meinber at either side. of itsl pivot to swing said member in either lireetion. n

2. In a gear shifter, the eombination with gear shifting ele-ments, of n'ieinbers for operatinfr said elements, rotative and longitndina ly movable means for selectively operating said members, and Separate means operated by the rotation of said selective means and siinnltancamsly therewith for moving all of lsaid members to shift said elements tio nent-ral position.

3. In a gear shifter, the combination with gear shifting` elements, of a pbiralitv ol members for ope ating said elements,` and means for operating said members includ ing' selectively positioned members t'or op eratinpl an)v one ot' said members, and a neu tralizing memberoperated by said means t'or operating all of said members prior to the operation of any1 one of them by said selectively posit-ioi'led members.

Jr. In a gear shifter, the combination with a l,rear shittingr element. operable in two directions. of a pivoted operaliimmember for moving Said element,and selective meansin eludinpl two pivoted members connected to turntogether and shiftable lraiisversel)v ot' the plane oi' pivotal movement ot' said operating member. one for engaging' said member at one side of its pivot to shift said element in one direction and one to engage said member at the outer side ot its pivot and shift said element in the other direction.

5. In a gear shifter. the combination with a gear shifting element operable in two di reetionsl` of a pivotal operatingr member tor moving said element. and membersl adapted to be 'moved transversely of the plane of rotation of the pivot-al member to brin;Y either of them into operative relation with said pivot/ed member to swing the saine in either direction.

ln a gear shifter. the combination with a pluralityI ot gear shifting elementsl operable in two directions. ot an operalingineniber for each element pivoted intermmliate its ends. and seleetive means adapted to be, moved transversel)7 ot' the plane ot' pivoted movement ot' said operatingr members to engage any one ol' said ,operating meiiibers at, either side. of their pivot to lnrn the same i'n two directions.

'i'. ln a. gear shifter, the combination with a ,e'ea r shifting element operable in two direetions` operating' means for said element. including' pivoted armsl eonneet-ed lo turn together, a Selector to engage either ot' said arms. aml means 'lor operating said selector to engage one of the armsl and turn the operating means inl one direction and toengaoe the. other arm and turn said means in tie other direct-ion.

8. In a gear shilter. the eombinalion'wth a plurality of gear shifting elements. ota'n operating member for each element pivot-- i ed internualiato its ends. a` rotatable selectorl y movable transversely of the plane of pivoted movement of said operating members into operative position relative to either end portion of each member at each side of the pivot thereof, means for turning said selector to swing said operating members, and a neutralizing member' for moving all of said operating members to shift the elements to neutral position, said neutralizing member being operated by said selector inadvance of swinging said operating members.

9. In a ar shifter, the combination with a pluralit i of longitudinally movable gear shiftin e ements, of a pivoted arm formoving eac. of said elements, a selector having an arm movable into operative relation to any one of said arms for turning the same, and a neutralizer independent of said selector operated by the turning of said selector arm to turn said arms for moving said elements in advance of their operation by said selector.

10. In a gear shifter, the combination with a pluralityv oi' gear shifting elements movable in tivo directions, a pivoted member for each element to move the same, a selector movable transversely of said pivotcd inembers into operative relation with each ol said pivoted members and provided with means for engaging and turning said pivoted members in one direction, and means connected to each pivoted member to be engaged by said selector when properly positioned by a movement thereof transversely of said means for turning` said pivoted members in the other direction.

ll. In a gear shifter. the combination with a plurality ol gear shifting elements movable in two dixcctions, oi' pivoted arms lor movingr said elements. a selector havingf pairs of members one member ot' each pair being adapted to engage one oi' said arms and shifting an element in one direction and the other ol' said pairs of arms being adapted to engage another arm and shift said element in tile other direction, and means for operating the selector'.

12. In a gear shifter, the combination with a gear shifting' clement, of an operatingn member bav'iinglV a downwardly extending arm to shift said clement aud a laterally cxtending arm,` a. pivotcd member having a pair oi' arms to selectively engage the arms of said member, and means for turuimeF the pivoted selector.

13. In a gear shifter, the combination with a plurality oi longitudinally movable gear shifting elements, a pivoted operating member for each element. and a pivoted selector for operating said members` said pivotcd opcratixng4 members and said pivoted selector having laterally extending' portions so positioned relatively to each other that the arcs described by them iu their turning.;r movement will overlap to turn the operating members by the engagement of said portions by the correspbiding portions on the selector, said selector being shiftable longitudinally of its pivotal axis.

14. In a gear shifter, the combination with a pluralit of longitudinally movable gear shifting e ements, a pivoted operating member for movin each element and a pirated and longitu inally movable selector aving two cam faces arranged in different vertical planes to engage the operating members and tarn the same.

15. In a gear shifter, the combination with a gear shifting element, of a pivoted operating member having a contact surface above its pivotal oint and a contact surface below its ivota point and a pivoted selector having contact surfaces in diti'erent planes to enga e the contact surfaces of the operating mem er and turn the same in two directions.

16. In a gear shifter, the combination with a plurality of gear shifting elements, of a pivoted operating member for moving each element, a' selector movable into operative position with each of said operating` members and u. sliding neutralizer to turn all of said members to neutral position, said neutralizer being moved in timed relation to the movement of the selector in operatine1r said members.

17. In va. gear shifter, the combination with a plurality of gear shiftingI elements, of au operating member for moving each element in two directions, a selector movable into operative relation with each of said members, a neutralizing arm connected with each oi said members and a sliding neutralizing member to engage the arms and operated by said selector'. Y

1S. in a gear shifter, the combination i with a plurality of gear shifting elements,

ot an operatingr member for each element, aI selector for moving the operating mem bers adapted to be moved into operative relation with any one of said members, a

sliding neutralizing member ada ted to turn all ot said members andshift t e elements to neutral position, and means operated by the operation of the selector for positively moving the neutralizer in two directions during the operation of the selector in operating;r said members.

19. In a gear shifter, the combination of a casing having an open side adapted to bc detaehahly secured over the open side of a casing of a change s eed gearing, an operating member for cac 1 gear shifting element of the change speed gearing, a selector for movingr the. operating members adapted to be, shifted into operativo relation with any one of said members, a neutralizing member for movingr all of said members to nelltral position when the selector is operated,

said operating members being extended to- Ward the open side of said casing to engage the gear shifting elements and said operating members, selector, and neutralizer all being housed within said casing, means extending through the casing for operating the selector and neutralizer, and separate means extending outside the easing for shifting the selector to set the same to give the desired speed.

20. In a gear shifter, the combination with a plurality of gear shifting elements, a pivoted arm for moving each element, a shaft. mounted adjacent Said operating members, a selector slidable longitudinally of the shaft and operatively connected thereto to turn therewith, said selector being adapt-- ed to engage and operate said members when the shaft 1s turned, means for moving the selector to set the same in operative relation to any one of said members, a horizontally disposed neutralizing slide for mov-- ing all of said members to neutral position,

and an arm on said shaft for moving said slide. X

2l. In a gear shifter, the oombin-.ition of a plurality ot' gear shifting elements, a pivoted operating member for eaeh element, a neutralizing arm connected to each member to turn therewith, a slidable neutralizing 30 member to engage the arms` and turn them to intermediate positioina pivote-d selector supported'adjacent said members and adapt ed to be moved into operative relation with :m5v one of said members` and means operated by the turning of the selector for moving the slide in two diret-,tions duning' a portion of the turning movement of said se lector.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Lewis E. FLANDEns, ANNA M. Doen. 

